Phil Gramm’s Greatest Hits: ‘Poor People Are Fat’ And ‘There Should Be No Minimum Wage’
Phil Gramm’s Greatest Hits: ‘Poor People Are Fat’ And ‘There Should Be No Minimum Wage’
During the last two days, the McCain campaign has gone into damage control over top economic adviser Phil Gramm’s belief that America has “become a nation of whiners” and is only “in a mental recession.” McCain tried to disavow the remarks by saying that “Phil Gramm does not speak for me.” But McCain’s distancing doesn’t change the fact that Gramm is considered his “econ brain.” McCain thinks so highly of Gramm that he was even the chairman of his failed 1996 presidential bid.
As it turns out, this is not the first time that Gramm, a self-styled “foot soldier of the Reagan revolution,” has advocated controversial views on the economy. In the past, he has criticized public works projects, the existence of a minimum wage, and the federal welfare program. Here are some highlights from McCain’s “econ brain,” as compiled by the Houston Chronicle [2/20/95]:
- “Until we are on a pay-as-you-go budget, until we have stopped inflation, I do not intend to support any public works project in the United States.” — Gramm, 10/9/75
- “Minimum wage laws tend to cut the bottom rung off the economic ladder. The plain truth is there should be no minimum wage law in this great land of free enterprise.” — Gramm, 5/17/89
“We’re the only nation in the world where all our poor people are fat.” — Gramm, 9/6/81
In addition, Gramm is an advocate of the flat tax and wants to cut taxes on capital gains. [Concord Monitor, 9/26/96] As the Wonk Room has noted, such capital gains cuts would mostly benefit millionaires. Joe Conason writes on Salon that Gramm’s deregulation policies “helped spur the mortage crisis.”
But it is not only on the economy that Gramm is out of touch. During a 1984 Senate debate, he criticized his opponent’s stance on gay rights by saying, “I do not want homosexuals teaching my third-grade boy.” [Houston Chronicle, 2/20/95] He also reveled in the defeat of Hillary Clinton’s health care bill by saying that it would pass only over his “cold, dead, political body.” He then called it “deader than Elvis.”
This is all from a man that John McCain said has a “rare intellect that grasps complex issues and explains them to others in plain language [Washington Times, 2/27/95].”
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Gramm sure does whine a lot.
July 11th, 2008 at 5:09 pmFat is not just for the poor who live on cheap, high starch food. Check out the upscale restaurants, many diners could use two chairs just to sit on. Or notice who are coming out of Starbucks, it goes on and on. This man is SO OUT OF TOUCH !
July 11th, 2008 at 5:11 pmGalbraith warns Gramm could be the Secretary of Treasury in a McCain administration.
Yeah — that’s all this country needs — another heartless, imbecile Texan with access the the national treasury.
Just saying . . .
July 11th, 2008 at 5:12 pmPhil Gramm’s wife was instrumental in helping Enron ruin employees, investors and received a huge bonus for it. So, by gosh, those people demanding a minimum wage should shut up and be glad to work for nothing.
July 11th, 2008 at 5:16 pmI just know there has to be loudmouth, corrupt politicians somewhere other than Texas.
I hope he keeps yapping; this will be a great way for the Dems to differentiate themselves from the elitists on the Repug side.
July 11th, 2008 at 5:18 pmGramm is a gift to the Democrats and Obama. I hope he stays on board.
July 11th, 2008 at 5:19 pmGramm is an opportunity seeking true neocon, in the mold of the father of neoconservatism, Leo Strauss. Who believed the masses are for the “benefit and service” of the privileged and politically connected and when used up should be disposed of. He has not the capability to feel or demonstrate compassion. These “people” are barely human and frankly are a danger to humanity when they hold any power.
July 11th, 2008 at 5:23 pmYes, our poor people are fat. I don’t see what’s wrong with that statement, honestly. The fact that our poor people are fat is a huge problem, and I think we’re all aware of the obesity epidemic in America, where the cheapest foods are unhealthy and the poor do not have the time or resources to avoid such unhealthiness. They don’t have time to cook; they don’t have money to buy fresh vegetables; McDonald’s restaurants are everywhere; junk food is easily available in place of real food. Our poor people ARE fat, and this is something we need to fix.
But the way to fix it isn’t by taking away their food. Obviously.
July 11th, 2008 at 5:28 pmThe new meme for Democrats: If McCain ran America like he runs his campaign, America would be in big trouble.
He’s already dismissed several staffers for their ties to lobbyists (although 15 lobbyist-connected staffers remain). He demoted his chairman (also a lobbyist) in favor of a Karl Rove protege. He courted and then renounced two controversial preachers. He accepted public financing and then reversed himself after already receiving the benefits. Now his top advisers are revealing what he really thinks and he claims that they do not speak for him.
What a joke. Just say NOPE!
July 11th, 2008 at 5:30 pmGramm is the sum total of this last 10 years, deregulate, cause financial ruin, and still end up with a cushy Swiss job. At least in Asian countries they hold this type of person accountable and usually kill them.
July 11th, 2008 at 5:31 pmFantastic. He is thelling HALF OF McLunatic’s “base” (the ones that believe Rush and O’Dildo) that they are SCUMBAGS.
He’s RIGHT, of course, but it MAY end up costing McSenile the presidency, which would be WONDERFUL FOR AMERICA.
July 11th, 2008 at 5:37 pmIf McCain really and honestly disagreed with Gramm he would have been fired by now. Gramm is an archaic, narrow minded cretin that needs to be kicked out of politics.
July 11th, 2008 at 5:38 pmCan someone page me when rozerze or another troll shows up to proclaim that everything Phil Gramm says is true and wise?
Thanks.
July 11th, 2008 at 5:39 pmHere are two Modest Propoasals:
Instead of a pill for depression, why doesn’t Big Pharma make one for greed? And then the Ruling Class can be controlled with their own “soma” type drug.
Two, let’s return these bastards to New Deal 70% PROGRESSIVE TAXATION.
Three, (OK I lied) lets throw a revolution and herald in a Reign of Terror and start beheading some of them…
Modest proposals all.
July 11th, 2008 at 5:40 pmGramm sounds like just the person to widen the gap between rich and poor, do away with the middle class, increase the population living below the poverty line, and further shift power from the people to the corporations. Just what we don’t need: Ebeneezer Scrooge finance.
July 11th, 2008 at 5:42 pmHeh. Phil Gramm and his senile old pal McStupid can kiss my whiny, fat, poverty-stricken, mentally recessionary ASSS.
July 11th, 2008 at 5:45 pmSo, what’s the over/under for when McCain will have to cut his losses and throw Gramm under The Straight Talk Express?
July 11th, 2008 at 5:45 pmO/T: Gay-Bashing Alabama A.G. Caught Having Gay Sex
LOL.
July 11th, 2008 at 5:48 pmGet thy Grandpappy McSame’s Dr. Phil to thy nursing home quickly.
July 11th, 2008 at 5:48 pmIt looks like the wingnuts are clinging to this live wire as if it was a rope hauling them out of quicksand.
Here’s what the Doughy Pantload has to say over at NRO:
“this is just another example of why I’ve always wanted Phil Gramm to be president of the United States and why that can never, ever, happen.
…Anyway, I think Gramm’s comments were politically dumb but substantially correct. “
Yesssss! Embrace it. I dare ya. I double-dare ya.
July 11th, 2008 at 5:49 pmreal economics = advanced mathematics = a form of science
We all know true neocons like Phil Gramm hate science, so their economics are simple:
taxing the rich = NEVER! “I’m a Reagan Republican!”
passing along the buck + 99% of the rest of the nation = the Democrats fault
Yeah, Gramm needs to look at some of his well-off friends before he labels the “poor” as “fat”. Rush, Savage, Rove, etc. all have chubby cheeks…not because they’re “jolly”…no-oooooo! Someone should tell them not to eat that double cheeseburger with Krispy Kreme donuts as the bun.
July 11th, 2008 at 5:49 pm#18 Dr. Hussein Matt Says:
O/T: Gay-Bashing Alabama A.G. Caught Having Gay Sex
LOL.
Thanks for sharing. Republicans and their “traditional family values” I see are firmly in place.
July 11th, 2008 at 6:02 pmA rare intellect? Actually, I agree. It is a rare intellect that believes all poor people are poor because they’re lazy, and we can be thankful for that small mercy. If it only it were rarer, instead of being the core philosophy of the Republican Party.
July 11th, 2008 at 6:03 pmIn other words, professor Galbraith, Mr. Gramm is a goddamn fraud. Thank you for confirming our suspicions.
July 11th, 2008 at 6:09 pmthis man
is bucking for
the vp spot.
*
July 11th, 2008 at 6:10 pmGramm is one of the senators (5) that are mostly responsible for the Enron debacle, by getting the “Commodity Futures Modernization Act of 2000″ passed. His wife was conveniently on the Enron board of directors, at the time. He has been a close and inside friend to the Banking, Securities and Investment village for many years, championing legislation on their behalf at every opportunity. His underhanded election tactics propelled him into office, initially as a democrat. In 1982 Gramm attended democratic caucus budget meetings and then secretly shared the information with Republicans and was busted. What a guy, huh? Democrats stripped him of his position on that committee. But his love for money and R. Reagan caused him to switch parties in 1983, one month after being re-elected to his house seat as a democrat. He held a seat in the senate until he finally resigned a few weeks before the elections so fellow Texan John Cornyn could be appointed to his remaining time and gain the upper hand in the election. Gramm has had that “Bush Touch” during his time in government and certainly since entering the private sector. He has been disastrous for USB, the Swiss Banking conglomerate. Everything he has touched has turned to brown matter. He should have stayed under his rock.
July 11th, 2008 at 6:10 pmWell, looky here!
We’re not only whiners…we’re FAT whiners.
Thanks for sharing, Phil.
NOT.
July 11th, 2008 at 6:24 pmMcCain/Gramm 08′. The Republicans are doomed.
July 11th, 2008 at 6:36 pmYou know…Phil Gramm is right, Americans are whiners.
We are whining because the gas the we were led to believe we were entitled to is too expensive to fill the tanks of the SUV’s and pick-ups we didn’t need but were talked into purchasing (on credit).
We are whining because the house we should never have been able to afford, that was priced at twice what it was worth to start with, now has a loan payment that properly reflects the amount we borrowed, which was more than we could afford.
We are whining because the government we elected based on a promise of conservative compassion has turned out to be a fascist regime hell bent on destroying the rest of the world, the environment, America’s reputation and Americans moral ground, to line the pockets of the ruling class.
We have been taught to consume, played as shills to move money to selected corporate robber barons. Now that the free money to purchase our baubles is dwindling, and we’re seeing that we’ve been duped, we are whining. We may even throw a tantrum and try to take our toys and go home. Oh, how many more problems will that create.
Yes, we Americans are whiners, Phil Gramm is right. We are whining because we got sold a bill of goods. We’re whining because we’re seeing a few very greedy people getting all the spoils, while “they” promised us a share. We’re whining because the people we elected to represent us are turning their backs on us while asking us for more donations.
What’s the answer? Mr Gramm says stop whining. I say stop consuming. There is a difference between living within your means and being a consumer. Purchase what you need; only what you need, and purchase quality. Purchase with an eye on the future, not on what you’ll look good in today. If you’re not yet struggling to make ends meet, shop as if you were. When the profits continue to diminish because the supply exceeds demand, the merchants will be forced into a fire sale and all of us will benefit.
This sounds trite and callous, I’m sure. But the Wal-Marts and Exxon / Mobil’s and Haliburton CEO’s are relying on you to “Stay the course”. They can tolerate your whining as long as you stay disenfranchised and disconnected from making your own decisions. I say buck the system, they have had a free ride for long enough. It’s time for corporate America to become a contributing member of the global community.
July 11th, 2008 at 6:42 pm#21 real economics = advanced mathematics = a form of science
Please note I am not defending neoclassical economist and ideologue, Gramm. However, using advanced math doesn’t make economics a science. Using advanced math makes it harder for students and citizens to figure out that neoclassical economic policy recommendations boil down to redistributing income upwards from the middle class to the already rich through cutting social programs, deregulation and tax cuts that overwhelmingly benefit the wealthy.
July 11th, 2008 at 6:53 pm“Until we are on a pay-as-you-go budget, until we have stopped inflation, I do not intend to support any public works project in the United States.”
It might be a little easier to balance the budget if we were to stop spending the outrageous amount of money on the military that we do. Not invading soverign nations that pose no threat to us might help too.
And guess what? Nobody gives a flying fuc)k what public works projects you support because it’s not your country, it’s ours and we’ll spend our money any damn way we please.
http://progressiveworldreview.com
July 11th, 2008 at 7:02 pmgramm and mcchimpy are two people a person of color can sit down and eat bbq and drink beer. those nuts can talk about how they are privileged because in their land they would be poorer.
repugs are down home goodness.
July 11th, 2008 at 7:25 pmPhil Gramm(cracker) is a fat headed fascist…
that’s much worst than being over weight…
July 11th, 2008 at 7:38 pmBob Says:
Gramm sounds like just the person to widen the gap between rich and poor, do away with the middle class, increase the population living below the poverty line, and further shift power from the people to the corporations. Just what we don’t need: Ebeneezer Scrooge finance.
Nicely said.
Rev. Wright said the same things about the US and what happened and what’s happening now. run repugs run.
There is a double standard between Sen. Obama and mcchimpy that the msm doesn’t care that decent folks know. they are biased. It’s looking very fishy each day. mcchimpy can shoot fluffy bunnies and call it down home goodness.
July 11th, 2008 at 7:42 pmJust got home from Wal-mart, I think it was the one Phil was in a few days back. WOW! I feel really good about myself today.
July 11th, 2008 at 7:55 pm.
Phil Gramm = Another whinny American!
.
July 11th, 2008 at 8:08 pmPhil Gramm and the GOP mentality: You poor people are too fat…perhaps if you went without food for a few days, you would be happier…
July 11th, 2008 at 8:19 pmand then you wouldn’t be in a mental recession…
July 11th, 2008 at 8:24 pmGramm: Wall Street is a holy place.
http://www.senate.gov/ comm/ banking_housing_and_urban_affairs/ general/ prel00/ 0229sta.htm
Get out of the tabernacle ya wankers!
July 11th, 2008 at 8:36 pm310 million people in this country and McSame picks the biggest pimple on the ass of the world, except for Blimbaughs cyst ridden ass.
July 11th, 2008 at 8:36 pmtony and lido
Phil Gramm belongs in jail.
July 11th, 2008 at 8:55 pmBlaming the nations ills on poor people?
HOW ELITIST.
He should get himself a drug addicted beer heiress sugar mommy for a wife and dump his current wife, then he wouldn’t have anything to whine about.
Just some straight talk, my friends.
July 11th, 2008 at 9:08 pmI know its not going to be a popular thing to say here, but is not supporting a minimum wage really such an awful position? You may not agree with it, but is it beyond discussion that it may do more harm than good. Its certainly debated by economists who have spent a lot of time on the issue, I’m not sure when it became a foregone conclusion that abolishing the minimum wage would be awful. While I don’t think it does much harm, much like most price controls I think it has the potential to be counterproductive.
I know it may sound like ‘I don’t believe in a minumum wage’ equates to ‘I hate poor people’, but a lot of people (I won’t speak for Gramm on the subject), think it actually harms poor people. Just my random attempt to restore discourse instead of vitriol in the world for the day…
-Brad
July 11th, 2008 at 9:22 pmWalt Disney World For Grownups
Can you explain how something that “MAY do more harm than good” can be “beyond discussion”?
If you’re saying that it’s “beyond discussion” that the possibility exists, then you’re really saying nothing, but saying it very emphatically.
If you’re saying anything else, I can’t see how it makes any sense.
July 11th, 2008 at 9:31 pmThe “no minimum wage” theme is a common cry from the rich and powerful, also trumpeted by the likes of George Will. Until the American people reject the Reagan revolution and demand higher wages, universal health insurance, and intelligent energy solutions, we will continue to be violated by Gramm and Bush and Cheney. Too many people think these people are nobel and care about America. In fact, they care about numero uno with no conscience or societal responsibility whatsoever. Don’t be fooled again, and again, and again. We can do better.
July 11th, 2008 at 9:43 pm______
machost Says:
You know…Phil Gramm is right, Americans are whiners.
We are whining because the gas the we were led to believe we were entitled to is too expensive to fill the tanks of the SUV’s and pick-ups we didn’t need but were talked into purchasing (on credit).
We are whining because the house we should never have been able to afford, that was priced at twice what it was worth to start with, now has a loan payment that properly reflects the amount we borrowed, which was more than we could afford.
July 11th, 2008 at 6:42 pm
______
Good points about the administration’s mistakes, but no one was forced to buy an SUV or truck or a house they couldn’t afford. Just because someone offers you a credit card and lots of fun things to buy doesn’t mean you have to buy them. Should the government restrict what people can buy based upon their income because they can’t restrain themselves? You want to hold those people in govt accountable for their crimes and/or mistakes. Individuals need to accept responsibility for their mistakes in their personal lives as well.
July 11th, 2008 at 10:15 pmChris Rock had it right: “Minimum wage is your boss saying ‘if I could pay you less, I would.’” Plenty of them would be perfectly happy paying you NOTHING, i.e., slavery.
July 11th, 2008 at 10:24 pmI wasn’t saying it WAS beyond discussion, I was asking you if you believe its beyond discussion. That is are you completely confident that if we abolished the minimum wage that it would be bad for anyone. I honestly believe its largely a non-issue, but its representative of a price control which generally have the opposite effects of their intention. Quite simply if I disincent people to create demand for something by forcing a minimum price then I create excess supply. If I disincent people from creating supply of something will create excess demand.
I simply don’t think that believing that a minimum wage is counterproductive makes a man self serving. I think believing in a market economy does not necessarily mean you ‘don’t care about poor people.’ While I disagree with Gramm about many (possibly every) things, that doesn’t mean he isn’t noble or doing what he genuinely believes is best. Remembering that can make a person much more persuasive than just vilifying people who don’t agree with you and disregarding their opinions.
-Brad
July 11th, 2008 at 10:38 pmWalt Disney World For Grownups
Why do Texans elect such ass*oles like this? Gramm was in the House of Representatives and Senate for nearly 20 years. Obviously a majority of Texans really liked his style of picking on those who can least defend themselves. Guess that makes him a “man”, or something like that.
I remember he said “I don’t want the government running health care” and the Texas crowd he said it front of cheered him on. Well, Gramm has health care for the rest of his life provided by that government (you get it when you’re a Senator), and the people in the audience ain’t gonna get that kind of “socialism”.
July 11th, 2008 at 10:38 pmWhy does McCain keep obtaining idiots from Texas for advisors? First Hagee, and now Phil Gramm. Who’s next?
July 11th, 2008 at 10:57 pm“Uosdwis Says:
Chris Rock had it right: “Minimum wage is your boss saying ‘if I could pay you less, I would.’” Plenty of them would be perfectly happy paying you NOTHING, i.e., slavery.”
Exactly the point. The minimum wage was instituted to force the Phil Gramms of the world to share some of their ill-gotten gains and insure that more people could buy the crap our economy is dependent on. I’d like to know what will happen when 50-60% of Americans abandon their cars and trucks by the side of the road, can’t drive to Wal-Mart, and don’t make anything because they’ve been laid off. That is not a plan.
July 11th, 2008 at 10:58 pmI count on my minimum wage job(s) to get myself through school, take that from me, and I’m going to fu(king rob you. Got it?
July 11th, 2008 at 11:00 pmbjohnson Says: Blah Blah Blah
Brad, get real. Abolish minimum wage? Your joking right?
July 11th, 2008 at 11:09 pmEver visited a country where there is no minimum wage?
I suppose it would be ok with you to abolish child labor laws too?
Jebus
What “arguments’ like this ignore is that the conditions for such bad loans have traditionally been restricted precisely because they lead to the kind of ponzi-scheme collapse that we’ve witnessed over the last few years.
The appealing simplicity of “the market will regulate itself” is a fantasy — unregulated markets, particularly in areas like housing, which feature complex contracts and repayment schedules and large transfers of capital, tend to develop very quickly into boom-and-bust cycles.
Healthy economies thrive on predictability.
The kind of free-for-all that conservatives advocate is not healthy for a developed economy. Or any economy.
The rationalization that the people who were suckered into buying too much house deserve what they got is neither compassionate, understanding, nor insightful regarding the wider impact on all of us in this economy.
It’s a standard, conservative justification for greed. John Kenneth galbraith said it best:
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man’s oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness.
July 11th, 2008 at 11:12 pmbjohnson Says:
I wasn’t saying it WAS beyond discussion, I was asking you if you believe its beyond discussion. That is are you completely confident that if we abolished the minimum wage that it would be bad for anyone. I honestly believe its largely a non-issue, but its representative of a price control which generally have the opposite effects of their intention. Quite simply if I disincent people to create demand for something by forcing a minimum price then I create excess supply. If I disincent people from creating supply of something will create excess demand.
You may believe what you wish, but studies have shown that minimum wage increases have no measureable effect on hiring practices, thus, the minimum wage itself causes no deleterious effects to the business climate.
July 11th, 2008 at 11:15 pmbjohnson Says:
Hey a$$whipe, i’m not going to sit around and starve while we wait for one of your economic theories to pan out.
If I can’t feed myself, guess what, I’m going to eat you. Now what would you rather pay for - minimum wage to keep me from redistributing your wealth (to me) or an entourage of body guards.
Progressives seem to have forgotten the threat of violence is what keeps the elite in line.
Maybe it’s not that they’ve forgotten
The Have-littles and Have-nothings have become more civilized.
The have-mores and have-everythings have not.
Turn your back on your fellow country man, don’t be surprised when he sticks a knife in it.
July 11th, 2008 at 11:21 pmMy apologies; I mis-read your comment.
No, it doesn’t. It is a striking coincidence, however, how many self-serving people make that argument, for presumably self-serving aims. I think believing in a market economy, in a classic, pure sense, demands a blindness to human realities in favor of theory. Whether that blindness is fed by self-interest or by a naive faith in simple theory is open to question.
In my view, unfettered free market economies inevitably trend toward concentration of wealth in the fewest number of hands. We’re seeing it now, as Bush economic policies have resulted in a sharp widening of the income and wealth gap over the past seven years.
Now, free market conservatives may be willing to accept that result as a natural consequence of what they see as the “fairest” way to organize economies. But I think most people recognize that society is more important than economy, and the economy should serve the society, not the other way around. And the best, healthiest and most peaceful society is one in which a large middle class participates in a vibrant economy. This requires regulation on all sorts of business practices so that people who are not expert in law or in real estate can purchase a home with some degree of comfort and confidence that they’re not getting taken advantage of.
A minimum wage has not been statistically shown to have any of the adverse effects claimed by opponents, and it has been shown to have positive impacts on local economies.
http://www.epi.org/ content.cfm/ briefingpapers_min_wage_bp
July 11th, 2008 at 11:25 pmbarfly: hence why I said its a non-issue. I shoudl have been more clear in saying that I think that the minimum wage as instituted right now isn’t having much effect either way. However in general I think price controls generally have the opposite effect of what they intended.
-Brad
July 11th, 2008 at 11:26 pmWalt Disney World For Grownups
ralph: i agree largely with your sentiment. Although I think you can make the argument that the way to overcome problems inherent in an unregulated economy are to reflect ‘hidden’ costs.
So for example, greenhouse gasses are a cost that have obviously been ‘hidden’ for quite some time. You can say that the market can’t solve that problem but I think the real solution is instead of trying to centrally micromanage the ecnomy, you simply make people FEEL the costs of greenhouse emissions with a tax and create an incentive to counteract them with subsidies.
When you use price controls instead you are basically speaking for other people’s monies instead of your own. For example if you want cheaper housing in your city, doesn’t it make more sense to subsidize it with the voters who want its money (and simultaneously increase the incentive to create more supply) than to tell the landlord he’s not allowed to make more than $X and disincent people to build more and increase the supply.
I see nothing wrong with trying to deal with these issues, however if we publically agree that they are a cost we’d like to pay then WE should pay them with subsidies and taxes, which don’t distort a market in the same ways as price controls. (Different ways, but I think they at least accomplish their intent instead of being counter productive).
July 11th, 2008 at 11:36 pm______
ralph the wonder llama Says:
What “arguments’ like this ignore is that the conditions for such bad loans have traditionally been restricted precisely because they lead to the kind of ponzi-scheme collapse that we’ve witnessed over the last few years.
The rationalization that the people who were suckered into buying too much house deserve what they got is neither compassionate, understanding, nor insightful regarding the wider impact on all of us in this economy.
It’s a standard, conservative justification for greed. John Kenneth galbraith said it best:
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man’s oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness.
July 11th, 2008 at 11:12 pm
July 11th, 2008 at 11:40 pm______
Greed isn’t restricted to the wealthy. How many of the people who got into trouble by buying too much house bought modest three bedrooms? I haven’t seen the statistics, but the individual cases of which I’m aware involved homes that were quite expensive compared to the national average. Beyond mortgage issues, should the govt also regulate what cars people can buy and whether they are given credit cards? At what point do you expect people to take responsibility for their actions?
It would have been one thing if Graham had an impeccable past and then suddently made some wild statements today. McCain could always say that he didn’t agree and that Graham had suddenly gone off on a tangent.
But the fact that Graham has done all these things for years and McCain brought him on board shows that McCain is in agreement.
(Not to mention many bills with Graham and McCain as sponsors that gave us disastrous results.)
July 11th, 2008 at 11:46 pmPardon, I should have reversed the last two:
“Do you object to price floors, as well as ceilings?”
July 12th, 2008 at 12:18 amI see you completely ignored my point and instead responded to the emotional buzzword that tripped your trigger.
I never said anything like greed was restricted to the wealthy. It’s precisely because greed isn’t restricted to the wealthy that regulation is necessary.
I explained a solid reason for regulating transactions that pose serious risks to those unschooled in the legal or financial intricacies of the process — so that such transactions can take place comfortably and with reasonable expectations of fairness, a condition which benefits the industry as well as the consumer. (The only one it doesn’t benefit is the crook out to rip off people.) You, for some reason, seem to have read that as a call to relieve people of the responsibility for themselves and their choices.
Rather than read the point I made, you seem to have translated it immediately into right-speak and responded to the interpretation that most closely matched a liberal stereotype.
The question is, why should I have expected any different from you?
July 12th, 2008 at 1:24 amOnly the rich don`t have a F ing clue……………..
I hope Jhonny keeps him on board for November because he is sure to lose……………
This wealthy politician is a MORON………
July 12th, 2008 at 2:02 amPhil Gramm is an idiot, just like mcbush…er, mcsame.
July 12th, 2008 at 8:50 amYou call this fascist ballerina petite ??????
(former CEO of Exxon/Mobil - with a retirement golden parachute of $500,000,000.00)
http://aycu28.webshots.com/ image/ 35947/ 2002733381467038500_rs.jpg
July 12th, 2008 at 10:47 amPhil, you sweet talker you.
July 12th, 2008 at 11:51 amPhil Gramm and John McSame are no different than the Bush Crime Family. The GOP is in existence to destroy democracy and our way of life.
July 12th, 2008 at 12:33 pmWhy is Phil Gramm being sought for economic advice? Why don’t they ask him how his investments in the soft-core porn industry panned out? (Read Al Franken’s books.)
July 12th, 2008 at 12:58 pm“Until we are on a pay-as-you-go budget, until we have stopped inflation, I do not intend to support any public works project in the United States.” — Gramm, 10/9/75
Well Phil, “pay as you go” was the way our country operated for two-hundred years, until you morons decided to label it “tax and spend” and then replaced it with “borrow from your children and grandchildren and generations unborn and spend it like there’s no tomorrow”
“Minimum wage laws tend to cut the bottom rung off the economic ladder. The plain truth is there should be no minimum wage law in this great land of free enterprise.” — Gramm, 5/17/89
You’re right as always, Phil. Our country would be much better off if we could just fill the bottom rungs with child laborers and people who could work as they starved to death, or rotted away from diseases they could have recovered from if they just could have seen a doctor. I think we cut the bottom rungs off of our food supply as well. Why shouldn’t poor people be able to eat the dead as well?
“We’re the only nation in the world where all our poor people are fat.” — Gramm, 9/6/81
July 12th, 2008 at 2:21 pmHoly crap! And all these years I thought PIGBOY LIMPBALLS was rich! Seriously though, Phil, you look like you have one foot in the grave already and I was pretty surprised to see that you are still alive. I’m gonna fix one hell of a good martini on the day you kick it.
Has Gramm ever gotten a peek at his ugly-old-self in a mirror? Sheez.
July 12th, 2008 at 7:33 pmMolly Ivins said that Gramm was one of the meanest people she ever met.
July 13th, 2008 at 1:38 amWell he should know. Has he looked in the mirror lately?
As for why poor people are fat, if they are fatter, it is because they eat a lot of cheaper high calorie foods. Usually the only things they can afford. And now with prices the way they are, the problem should get worse. They eat alot of filling foods like spaghetti and potatoes. Starchy foods that give the illusion of a full stomach. As for the fat Mr.Gramm he has no excuse.
This man is responsible for much of the de-regulation of our financial market and institutions. And he is the FAT HEAD heading McCain’s economic policy. And if McCain gets elected, this man with the milk of human kindness running in his veins will be the Secretary of the Treasury.
This arrogant, most umpopular, selfish right wing nut job and his ditto head wife are and always have been in total disconnect from everyone else. He represents so many of the Republicans and the neocons that now have run this country into the ground. He has nothing to connect him to his fellow Americans except he was born here. I often wonder what happens to these people that turn out to be so very nasty.
What happens in their lives that makes them so totally contemptuous of others. Why the only standard they judge by is financial? I wonder just who will mourn this man and his equally selfish wife? Just how will all that money and greed leave the world any better? It won’t. That thought never occurs to these people. People like this and the Bush’s go through life in a closed little society of money and power.
The only foot print they leave is one of devastation behind. I have seen more empathy, more generosity, more common sense, more good qualities in the four legged animal. This elitist man whose sole criterion for existence is the bank balance and power of money.
Guess what? He is going to die like the rest of us. His body will fail and his grasp on his life will disappear too. How much money will help him? And the real question is, who will care? Money may or may not prolong his selfish existence, but who cares?
July 13th, 2008 at 8:24 amHey Phil, does it bother you that Texans like me think you’re a Nazi?
Just wondering.
July 13th, 2008 at 11:40 pm